Vodafone UK chief Hoencamp departs for Netherlands CEO role

Hoencamp steps down from UK operations to head up Netherlands JV with Liberty Global, and is replaced by Group enterprise chief Nick Jeffery

Vodafone UK chief executive Jeroen Hoencamp is to step down from the operator’s UK operations to become the new CEO of its proposed joint venture with Liberty Global in the Netherlands.

He is to be replaced as UK boss by Vodafone Group enterprise chief executive Nick Jeffery, who will take up the role from September 1.

Hoencamp took up the top job in the UK in September 2013, having previously been chief executive of its operations in Ireland. He has also held various senior roles at Vodafone Netherlands during a 12 year stint in the country. He will also become CEO of Vodafone Netherlands.

In February, Vodafone announced plans to launch a £770 million joint venture with Liberty Global that will bring together the Virgin Media-owner’s Ziggo broadband assets and Vodafone’s mobile operation.

Vodafone Group Chief Executive Vittorio Colao said: “Jeroen and Nick are two of the Group’s most experienced and proven senior executives with an extensive history of operational, strategic and fixed-mobile integration leadership.

“These appointments will further strengthen our Netherlands and UK businesses as our convergence strategy in those markets continues to gather pace.”

Jeffery has led the Group’s enterprise division since January 2013 and was previously chief executive of Cable and Wireless Worldwide following its acquisition by Vodafone in 2012. He joined Vodafone in 2004.

He takes over the reins at Vodafone’s UK operations after a difficult few months, in which it was named the most complained about network for the sixth quarter in a row by Ofcom. Vodafone has blamed the high number of complaints on a transition to a new billing system.